Colchester United's U23 side were defeated on their travels on Tuesday afternoon, with Cardiff coming out 4-1 winners in their Professional Development League fixture.
There were just three minutes on the clock when the U's afternoon was made very difficult, as they were reduced to ten men. Billy Cracknell was dismissed by the referee for bringing down Evans as the Cardiff man ran through one-on-one with 'keeper Endurance Johnson.
The Bluebirds were then very content with posession, looking to exploit the gaps in the U's defence left by the dismissed Cracknell and they were unlucky not to open the scoring when after fifteen minutes Davies broke away and ran through, but could only find the post before Tchamadeu was able to clear.
But the hosts did eventually find the net after knocking on the door for the opening half hour. Colwill crossed the ball low into the area before it was half cleared by the U's to Patten. His low drive went through a number of bodies before evading Johnson and finding the back of the net.
The minutes later they had a second goal. It came from the penalty spot as Isaak Davies converted beyond Johnson after a foul on Patten inside the eighteen yard box.
Davies had his second of the game and second form the spot less than ten minutes later. It was Colwill who was brought down on the edge of the area by Akolbire, with Davies stepping up and sending Johnson the wrong way to make it 3-0 to Cardiff City.
The hosts started the second half in the same way that they had ended the first, and almost added to their tally six minutes into the second period. Colwill cut the ball across to Waite removing Johnson from the equation, but his own man Davies blocked it on the line, keeping the score at 3-0.
But it was the U's who got the first goal of the second half. Good work from Tom Stagg (pictured above) down the left flank meant he could cut inside and win a penalty. Stagg himself stepped up to take and sent the 'keeper the wrong way to reduce the defecit.
Ten minutes later though, Cardiff City had their three goal cushion restored when Trialist put the ball into his own net. The ball was driven across at an awkward height, with the U's man unable to avoid the path of the cross, diverting into the net.
And that was how the game would finish. It was a tough afternoon for the U's who were reduced to ten men so early on in the game, and they will remain in eighth place in the table after the defeat.
Cardiff City starting XI: Cogman, McWilliams, Waite, King, Denham, Bodenham, Colwill, Bowen, Davies, Patten, Evans.
Subs: Jones, Stewart, Griffiths, Idowu.
Colchester United starting XI: Johnson, Tchamadeu, Akolbire (Lowe 77'), Marshall Miranda, Cracknell, Tricker, Bohui, Cornish, Hutchinson, Thomas (Trialist 43'), Stagg.
Subs: All used.